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The landscape of social assistance in Brazil underwent a significant renewal this week with the enactment of Law 14,674 of 2023, signed by the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This emerging legislation represents significant progress: the implementation of a housing allowance.
The debate surrounding the establishment of this benefit gained momentum in 2020 and has finally materialized as a strategy to support a particularly vulnerable segment of the population.
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According to the wording of the law, the housing allowance will focus exclusively on women who are victims of domestic violence. This focus emerges as a direct response to the imperative of providing support and protection to women subjected to hostile and risky environments.
The enactment of Law 14,674 became official in the latest edition of the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU), published on Friday, September 15, 2023. This act represents significant progress in national strategies to combat violence against women.
It is important to point out that the law originated from bill 4,875/20, which was approved by the Federal Senate in August. Now, with presidential approval, the housing assistance becomes part of the set of protection measures outlined by the Maria da Penha Law.
This highlights the government's commitment to combating and reducing the incidence of domestic violence, extending a more comprehensive support network to victims.
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Therefore, if you wish to learn more about this innovative assistance proposal for this vulnerable group, continue reading. We will clarify many questions below.
Understand the nuances of the recent law
According to the new legal guidelines, the responsibility for granting housing assistance will no longer fall solely on states and municipalities, but will result from a court decision.
This measure aims to protect women in socially and financially vulnerable situations, especially those who have left their homes due to threats related to domestic violence.
Senator Margareth Buzetti, who reported on the bill, argues that the funds for the aid will come from the states and municipalities, allocated to social assistance aimed at individuals in temporarily vulnerable situations.
The senator bases her perspective on a sad Brazilian statistic, according to which every two minutes five women experience violence, and in more than 80% of these cases, the aggressor is a partner or former partner.
One of the reasons that perpetuate this practice is the victims' economic dependence on their aggressors.
Minister of Women Cida Gonçalves, alongside the promulgation of the legislation, emphasized that only 134 municipalities in Brazil have shelters for women at risk. Meanwhile, the states maintain only 43 shelter units.
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These infrastructures represent the spaces available to recipients of housing assistance, seeking to ensure them a place free from danger and contribute to their rehabilitation and social reintegration.
In São Paulo, housing assistance is already a reality!
In the metropolis of São Paulo (SP), a housing assistance program had already been established, focusing on victims of domestic violence.
However, this initiative originated earlier, in response to the alarming increase in violence rates during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Thus, the São Paulo measure aims not only to provide financial support to victims, but also to facilitate their access to shelters in the city when they find themselves in threatening situations.
Recognizing the urgency of these circumstances, in which victims often need to flee their homes, housing assistance proves essential.
Furthermore, it is important to note that this program does not require bureaucratic procedures such as presenting a police report or a Court Protective Order to grant the benefit.
The legislation determines that the Municipal Department of Social Assistance and Development should actively support victims.
To expedite assistance, the department operates through a Vacancy Center, which centralizes requests for aid in critical situations.
Finally, support for victims is provided through the capital's assistance centers, including CRAS, CREAS, and Centro POP.
It is crucial to emphasize that female victims with children between zero and five years old have priority in this housing assistance program.
